HELP - gas bill is really high :o(

toby_puppy

Hello

I moved into a mid terraced house 1 November 09 and was with npower for gas and electric. I found it would be cheaper to switch to Scottish Power online so have done.

I got my final npower gas bill this morning on actual readings - £115 from 1 November to 13 December, I nearly fainted - I have budgeted for about £40 per month. I am actually in work five days a week so not even using any gas between 9 - 5 weekdays.

I have the central heating on but not exessively - probably 3 hours per night and maybe just the gas fire on in morning for an hour.

The boiler is a worcester combi one and its situated in the bedroom upstairs. What I have noticed is that when I turn on the hot water tap in the kitchen, it takes an age to get hot. When it does get hot it only lasts for a few seconds and I have to faff about slowing the speed of the water down to get it to run hot again.

I'm wondering if this could be making my bills higher as obviously the gas is kicking in as soon as I turn that tap. Is it anything to do with the boiler being located so far from the kitchen or shouldnt that effect it?

However, the hot water in the bathroom (also downstairs) doesnt seem to take as long as the kitchen water takes to get hot - not quick, but not half as long as kitchen. I am now dreading the metered water bill as I have to run off so much water every day to get to right tempertature.

I'm not sure if the boiler has been serviced or the fire, I was wondering if that would cut gas consumption?

There is a snowflake dial on the boiler which the dial is turned about halfway between summer and winter. I have checked meter readings (ingoing and current) and they are correct. There are no thermostats on the wall but when heating is on the radiators do get very hot.

Is it cheaper to run a gas fire on setting 3 for a couple of hours or cheaper to have the central heating on?

Sorry for all questions but advice would be great. Thanks.

Premier_2

£115 for 6 weeks in winter doesn't sound too bad.

Remember, you'll be using a lot less gas in July/August if you were hoping to budget the annual cost by equal monthly payments.

spiro

I would have though budgetting £480 per year for gas was low and you need to remember you use several times more gas per week in the winter months compared to the summer. That is why people opt for direct debit payment as the payments are even across the year.

The other thing with a combi boiler is that you have no hot water tank sot he boiler heats the water 'on demand'.

BargainGalore

I agree £115 isnt excessive maybe slightly above average

toby_puppy

does anyone think I'd be using a lot of gas having the problem of getting the water to run hot and it taking ages?

Premier_2

jostenning wrote: »

does anyone think I'd be using a lot of gas having the problem of getting the water to run hot and it taking ages?

As mentioned previously, the boiler heats water on demand.

So if there is a long run from the boiler to the tap, that is why you have to wait.
Remember, every drop of water that comes out of the hot tap is heated (which you pay for) even if it's cold by the time it comes out of the tap.

In winter, this heat will be 'lost' by being transferred into heat that warms the house.
In summer, you probably really lose it as you'll fling open the windows in an attempt to keep cool.

Dave_save

jostenning wrote: »

does anyone think I'd be using a lot of gas having the problem of getting the water to run hot and it taking ages?

I have a Worcester combi and mine has a hot water preheat. I can disable this either via the time programmer or by pressing the 'Eco' button. Sounds like yours has the preheat permanently disabled. Try pressing the Eco button (if your boiler has one) and if the light goes out it should give hot water almost immediately. Without preheat there is always a lag between turning on the tap and receiving hot water. Either way, gas consumption increases the more hot water it heats but I wouldn't think that's the cause of what you consider to be high usage.

Pincher

If you are able to have a decent shower, and the hot water keeps coming, then there's probably nothing wrong with the combi. Just check with the plumber next time you get it serviced, in case you have lime scale build up in the heat exchanger.

markharding557

£40 pm for both gas and elec is unrealisticly low you would have to severerly reduce consumption to do that.
the avererage household spends about £1000 per year on energy which works out at just over £83 pm over 12 months.
this should give you the idea

gazza975526570

I pay around £50per month for both in a 4 bed semi.

Gas use is almost nothing in the summer months and for me about 10 times more in the winter ones (probably more some months)

It has been very very cold for a long time

toby_puppy

my boiler is a worcester 28si II

i'm reading the gas meter and the reading was 1100 and after 2 hours of the heating on it went to 1102 did the same again this morning 2 hours of heating and its gone to 1104.

i don't understand the conversion from units to kwh so does anyone have an idea of how much it's costing me to run the heating based on above figures?

i'm with scottish power online energy saver.

sorry for being a doughnut